The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

<p>With gas taxes not keeping pace with inflation, state politicians are looking to eliminate gas taxes in favor of alternatives such as sales taxes, vehicles-miles-traveled fees, and new forms of road tolls.</p>

November 21 - USA Today

<p>As its population declines and homes are taking up more space, home designers in Japan are looking to the self-sufficient designs of space stations to guide the development of environmentally sustainable homes.</p>

November 21 - BBC

<p>This article in North Carolina's <em>Independent Weekly</em> looks at a proposal to chop the top off a historic hill in Raleigh to make way for commercial development. Environmental groups are opposing the plan.</p>

November 21 - The Independent Weekly (North Carolina)

<p>A gate with stone pillars will separate the haves from the have-nots at a recently approved development for seniors in Monterey County, California.</p>

November 21 - Monterey County Weekly

<p>Kalamazoo's bold scholarship program is helping town's students and emerging as an effective economic development tool.</p>

November 20 - Michigan Land Use Institute

<p>Crime-weary residents of all ages, races and sexes are increasingly choosing to protect themselves by purchasing guns and learning to shoot them. Happiest about the trend are the owners of the city's gun shops.</p>

November 20 - Memphis Commercial-Appeal

<p>Gov. Mitt Romney releases an engineering review that finds Boston's Big Dig to be 'fundamentally safe' but recommends some repairs.</p>

November 20 - The Boston Globe

<p>Los Angeles should consider improving its already successful bus rapid transit system before investing in a $5 billion subway expansion.</p>

November 20 - The Los Angeles Times

<p>Richard Weinstein, a professor of architecture and urban design at UCLA, and dean from 1985-94, comments on the role design competitions can play in building a better downtown.</p>

November 20 - The Los Angeles Times

<p>Supporters and critics of a proposal to build a new 75-mile bypass road around Indianapolis debate whether the new road will help or hurt the city.</p>

November 20 - The Indianapolis Star

<p>An iconic piece of popular culture passes into history after the factory producing the bright pink lawn art shuts down.</p>

November 20 - The New York Times

<p>New figures show a dramatic downturn in two of Canada's hottest real estate markets -- Calgary and Vancouver -- though the change appears to be a reaction on the part of consumers to unrealistically rapid price increases.</p>

November 20 - The Globe and Mail

<p>Broad changes to Scotland's planning systems were recently approved. A proposal to give communities a third party right of appeal did not pass, leaving many residents concerned that they will have little say in the planning and development of their communities.</p>

November 20 - The Scotsman

<p>As industrial areas convert to condos and a new baseball stadium eats up a large chunk of their former stomping grounds, it's getting harder and harder for strip clubs to find a place to operate in Washington D.C.</p>

November 20 - Washington City Paper

<p>As the cost of living continues to rise in southern Florida, The University of Miami is working with Duany, Plater-Zyberk and Company to design and build an affordable faculty-oriented village.</p>

November 20 - The Hurricane

<p>City Watch Los Angeles examines the different types of real estate developers, and identifies the key factors that make for a "good" developer.</p>

November 19 - Los Angeles City Watch

<p>As signs of a housing bubble continue to emerge, one corner of the market seems unperturbed -- the market for homes that sell for $5 million and up.</p>

November 19 - The Slatin Report

Planners in Europe are experimenting with removing traffic signs to encourage human interaction between motorists and cyclists and pedestrians.

November 19 - Spiegel Online

<p>John Catoe, a Washingtion D.C. native who won praise as second in command at the Los Angeles MTA, was tapped to run the capital's transit agency -- a job that comes with both major headaches and perks.</p>

November 19 - The Washington Post

<p>Contrary to popular belief, the City of Oakland made very little profit, if any, on having the Oakland Athletics play at the McAfee Coliseum. The baseball team's pending move within Alameda County frees the stadium for more lucrative events.</p>

November 19 - The San Francisco Chronicle